The body of an Isla Vista resident was recovered on Tuesday, Feb. 24 from a beach below the Mesa neighborhood in Santa Barbara County, according to Santa Barbara police.
The man was identified as 53-year-old Isla Vista resident Ryan Quinn later that week, according to Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Raquel Zick. Santa Barbara Police Dispatch received a report of a body found near the “rocks at the base of the cliff” near the 1800 block of El Camino de la Luz. The Santa Barbara Fire Search and Rescue team recovered his body later that Tuesday.
According to the Santa Barbara Independent, Executive Director of Public Affairs and Communications at Santa Barbara City College, Jordan Killebrew, confirmed Quinn was previously an hourly employee at the college. He was also involved with a student media program at the college, Fresh Frames, which features film, animation and photography.
At this time, Santa Barbara police said “no signs of foul play were discovered,” and the death remains under investigation.
A version of this article appeared on p. of the March 5, 2026 edition of the Daily Nexus.
